Trump Backs Crypto Ethics Deal, Unblocking CLARITY Act Vote

White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt said he will stay in the role to see the bill through. Witt had been scheduled for mandatory military training, which was deferred so he could push for the legislation. Speaking to reporters, Witt pressed Congress to pass the CLARITY Act before Russia finalizes its own crypto framework, which is expected later this year.

The United States has fallen behind other jurisdictions. The European Union, Singapore, the UAE and Hong Kong all have operating crypto rules. Britain is on track to finalize its framework by 2027, the Treasury has said.

The CLARITY Act had been hung up on three flashpoints: stablecoin yield regulation, developer protections and ethics provisions. The first two issues had seen incremental progress. Ethics remained the final barrier until this week.

Even with the ethics deal in hand, prediction markets are pricing low odds of a 2026 vote. Kalshi pegs the probability of passage before 2027 at 38%. The odds jump to 61% for the first quarter of 2027, suggesting traders expect the bill to cross the finish line next year, not this one.